French early attractive coach clock with alarm Circa 1740

Silver coach clock by Jean Baptiste Baillon
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An early, attractive French coach clock with alarm made by Jean Baptiste Baillon in Paris, circa 1740. It has a silver case with the maker’s punch mark PBV and a large integrated turnable disk over the winding key holes. The white enamel dial features Roman numerals for the hours, an outer railway minute track with Arabic five minute numerals, and decorative hands. The movement is full plate with chain/fusee, two barrels, one hammer, verge escapement, and a three-arm brass balance. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 87 g
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Signed: Jean Baptiste Baillon à Paris
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Jean-Baptiste Baillon (de Fontenay) was a very famous and, in the 18th century, the richest watch- and clockmaker in Paris. In 1727, he became a master. He had his own manufactory in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where several makers worked for him, which was quite unusual at the time. The factory was run by Jean Jodin (1715-1761) and closed in 1765. Ferdinand Berthoud was impressed by Baillon’s business; he admired its size and the excellent quality of its products. In 1753, Berthoud wrote about Baillon’s shop: “Nowadays this is the most beautiful and most wealthy watch shop. Diamonds are not only used for pocket watches but even for clocks.” Around 1770, Baillon was appointed watch- and clockmaker to the court of Queen Marie Antoinette, “Premier Valet de Chambre and Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Dauphine to Marie-Antoinette.” In 1772, Jean-Baptiste-Albert Baillon died a very rich man. His assets were worth around 384,000 livres. Some of his works are today held by museums in Paris, Toulouse, Brussels, Florence, London and New York.